Restoration or Development for Steilacoom Mill Site?
The land conservation group Forterra has its eye on a Steilacoom property, and that’s making some in Steilacoom a little nervous.
Forterra is considering acquiring the former Abitibi Mill site on Chambers Creek Road in Steilacoom, and returning the industrial property to a more natural state. According to an article in the TNT, one plan would restore native vegetation and water flow, including opening up two streams currently confined to culverts, and removing the upstream dam. The plan also calls for moving Chambers Creek Road inland to allow for the restoration of the natural shoreline.
This would be great for wildlife and water quality, but it has some in Steilacoom worried about the lost opportunity for tax revenue from the town’s only industrial site. The site has sat unused for some years now, but there has been talk in the past of possible residential development on the property. If Forterra goes through with the purchase, it will likely be off the books permanently. Forterra is just in the early stages of considering the site, but the group has applied for state funding for a feasibility study and early negotiations and design work for the project.
Given the choice between guaranteed restoration or potential tax revenue, what would you like to see for the site? Is there a creative compromise?
Filed under: Elsewhere
6 comments
T talus December 4, 2012
Restoration and recreation, please. Maybe industrial uses there made sense in the past, but not anymore — it’s too sensitive a spot, and these kind of restoration opportunities don’t come around often. Chambers Creek canyon has the potential to be a remarkable park (to some extent it already is) and a rare example of a restored and functioning salmon and (maybe) steelhead creek in the middle of a highly populated area.
It will be wonderful to see that useless dam removed and the estuary restored, hopefully in time for the U.S. Open so we can show it off.
J Jenny Jenkins December 4, 2012
@1 Well put.
J jsisbest December 5, 2012
Agreed! I don’t know what Steilacoom is thinking… It’d be difficult for any new industrial use to get through EIS/SEPA on that site, no? Assuming that since the old mill is inactive and being disassembled that a new industrial use would be starting over in terms of building and permitting? And the City already sold the uplands to the School District.
Forterra might be based in Seattle, but in their origins as Cascade Land Conservancy they have done great conservation projects throughout western Washington. Steilacoom should be excited to have Forterra interested in this much needed restoration project.
R RGardner December 7, 2012
Remove the dam and say good-bye to the best skim boarding hangout. I’m way to old to that, but was entertained by the TNT’s coverage last year (I think the TNT photographer had the hots for one of the skim boarders).
L leroy McKane December 13, 2012
Hmm I’m not sure what to think about the dam.
T talus December 14, 2012
Hmmm, let’s see … the dam hampers salmon migration, prevents normal estuary functions, and benefits no one other than skim boarders (who may well find some good places to board as the sediment shifts around post-dam removal). Doesn’t seem like a real hard decision.